Stored picture index for AVC coding

Abstract

A new identifier, called the active ID, is computed for each decoded video picture used as a reference picture. The active ID is computed from the frame buffer index and the frame-field encoding type and uniquely identifies each of the decoded video pictures. In one aspect, the active ID identifies decoded video pictures used in a B direct co-located macroblock prediction process. In another aspect, the active ID identifies decoded video pictures used in a de-blocking process.

1 . A computerized method comprising: 
 retrieving a frame buffer index and a frame-field mode of a decoded video picture; and    computing an active ID for the decoded video picture from the frame buffer index and the frame-field mode, the active ID uniquely identifying the corresponding decoded video picture.    
   
   
       2 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 storing the active ID in a look-up table, wherein the look-up table associates the active ID with a reference ID and frame number of the decoded video picture.    
   
   
       3 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 identifying the decoded video picture stored in a frame buffer using the corresponding active ID.    
   
   
       4 . The computerized method of  claim 3 , wherein the decoded video picture identification by the active ID is used in a B direct temporal prediction process.  
   
   
       5 . The computerized method of  claim 3 , wherein the decoded video picture identification by the active ID used in a de-blocking process.  
   
   
       6 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein computing the active ID for a frame of the decoded video picture comprises setting the active ID equal to the frame buffer index.  
   
   
       7 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein computing the active ID for a top field of the decoded video picture comprises setting the active ID equal to a value selected from a group consisting of a value equal to twice the frame buffer index and a value equal to the frame buffer index plus 16.  
   
   
       8 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein computing the active ID for a bottom field of the decoded video picture comprises setting the active ID equal to a value selected from a group consisting of a value equal to twice the frame buffer index plus one and a value equal to the frame buffer index plus 32.  
   
   
       9 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 checking if the value of the active ID is reused.    
   
   
       10 . The computerized method of  claim 9 , wherein checking if the value of the active ID is reused comprises comparing the decoded video picture frame number with frame numbers of a reference picture and a co-located picture.  
   
   
       11 . The computerized method of  claim 9 , wherein checking if the value of the active ID is reused comprises comparing a co-located picture long term life count with a reference picture life count.  
   
   
       12 . A computerized method comprising: 
 identifying a decoded video picture stored in a frame buffer by an associated active ID, the active ID computed from a frame buffer index and a frame-field mode of the decoded video picture and uniquely identifying the decoded video picture.    
   
   
       13 . The computerized method of  claim 12 , wherein the decoded video picture identification by the active ID is used in a B direct temporal prediction process.  
   
   
       14 . The computerized method of  claim 12 , wherein the decoded video picture identification by the active ID used in a de-blocking process.  
   
   
       15 . A machine readable medium having executable instructions to cause a processor to perform a method comprising: 
 retrieving a frame buffer index and a frame-field mode of a decoded video picture; and    computing an active ID for the decoded video picture from the frame buffer index and the frame-field mode, the active ID uniquely identifying the corresponding decoded video picture.    
   
   
       16 . The machine readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 storing the active ID in a look-up table, wherein the look-up table associates the active ID with a reference ID and frame number of the decoded video picture.    
   
   
       17 . The machine readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 identifying the decoded video picture stored in a frame buffer using the corresponding active ID.    
   
   
       18 . The machine readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the decoded video picture identification by the active ID is used in a B direct temporal prediction process.  
   
   
       19 . The machine readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the decoded video picture identification by the active ID used in a de-blocking process.  
   
   
       20 . The machine readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein computing the active ID for a frame of the decoded video picture comprises setting the active ID equal to the frame buffer index.  
   
   
       21 . The machine readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein computing the active ID for a top field of the decoded video picture comprises setting the active ID equal to a value selected from a group consisting of a value equal to twice the frame buffer index and a value equal to the frame buffer index plus 16.  
   
   
       22 . The machine readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein computing the active ID for a bottom field of the decoded video picture comprises setting the active ID equal to a value selected from a group consisting of a value equal to twice the frame buffer index plus one and a value equal to the frame buffer index plus 32.  
   
   
       23 . The machine readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 checking if the value of the active ID is reused.    
   
   
       24 . The machine readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein checking if the value of the active ID is reused comprises comparing the decoded video picture frame number with frame numbers of a reference picture and a co-located picture.  
   
   
       25 . The machine readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein checking if the value of the active ID is reused comprises comparing a co-located picture long term life count with a reference picture life count.  
   
   
       26 . A machine readable medium having executable instructions to cause a processor to perform a method comprising: 
 identifying a decoded video picture stored in a frame buffer by an associated active ID, the active ID computed from a frame buffer index and a frame-field mode of the decoded video picture and uniquely identifying the decoded video picture.    
   
   
       27 . The machine readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the decoded video picture identification by the active ID is used in a B direct temporal prediction process.  
   
   
       28 . The machine readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein the decoded video picture identification by the active ID used in a de-blocking process.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus comprising: 
 means for retrieving a frame buffer index and a frame-field mode of a decoded video picture; and    means computing an active ID for the decoded video picture from the frame buffer index and the frame-field mode, the active ID uniquely identifying the corresponding decoded video picture.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 means for storing the active ID in a look-up table, wherein the look-up table associates the active ID with a reference ID and frame number of the decoded video picture.    
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 means for identifying the decoded video picture stored in a frame buffer using the corresponding active ID.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the means for computing the active ID for a frame of the decoded video picture comprises setting the active ID equal to the frame buffer index.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the means for computing the active ID for a top field of the decoded video picture comprises setting the active ID equal to a value selected from a group consisting of a value equal to twice the frame buffer index and a value equal to the frame buffer index plus 16.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the means for computing the active ID for a bottom field of the decoded video picture comprises setting the active ID equal to a value selected from a group consisting of a value equal to twice the frame buffer index plus one and a value equal to the frame buffer index plus 32.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 means for checking if the value of the active ID is reused.    
   
   
       36 . An apparatus comprising: 
 means for identifying a decoded video picture stored in a frame buffer by an associated active ID, the active ID computed from a frame buffer index and a frame-field mode of the decoded video picture and uniquely identifying the decoded video picture; and    means for retrieving the decoded video picture.    
   
   
       37 . A system comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory coupled to the processor though a bus; and    a process executed from the memory by the processor to cause the processor to retrieve a frame buffer index and a frame-field mode of a decoded video picture and compute an active ID for the decoded video picture from the frame buffer index, and the frame-field mode, the active ID uniquely identifying the corresponding decoded video picture.    
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the process further causes the processor to store the active ID in a look-up table, wherein the look-up table associates the active ID with a reference ID and frame number of the decoded video picture.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the process further causes the processor to identify the decoded video picture stored in a frame buffer using the corresponding active ID.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the process to cause the processor to identify the decoded video picture by the active ID is used in a B direct temporal prediction process.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the process to cause the processor to identify the decoded video picture by the active ID used in a de-blocking process.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein computing the active ID for a frame of the decoded video picture comprises setting the active ID equal to the frame buffer index.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein computing the active ID for a top field of the decoded video picture comprises setting the active ID equal to a value selected from a group consisting of a value equal to twice the frame buffer index and a value equal to the frame buffer index plus 16.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein computing the active ID for a bottom field of the decoded video picture comprises setting the active ID equal to a value selected from a group consisting of a value equal to twice the frame buffer index plus one and a value equal to the frame buffer index plus 32.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the process further causes the processor to check if the value of the active ID is reused.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein checking if the value of the active ID is reused comprises comparing the decoded video picture frame number with frame numbers of a reference picture and a co-located picture.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein process causing the process to check if the value of the active ID is reused comprises comparing a co-located picture long term life count with a reference picture life count.  
   
   
       48 . A system comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory coupled to the processor though a bus; and    a process executed from the memory by the processor to cause the processor to identify a decoded video picture stored in a frame buffer by an associated active ID, the active ID computed from a frame buffer index and a frame-field mode of the decoded video picture and uniquely identifying the decoded video picture.    
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the process to cause the processor to identify the decoded video picture by the active ID is used in a B direct temporal prediction process.  
   
   
       50 . The computerized method of  claim 48 , wherein the process to cause the processor to identify the decoded video picture by the active ID used in a de-blocking process.